The body : a sign of God's divine mystery

Abstract

This long essay focuses on John Paul II's thesis that: 'The body, and it alone, is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and the divine. It was created to transfer into the visible reality of the world the mystery hidden since time immemorial in God, and thus be a sign of it.' (Audience 20 February 1980). The essay is divided into five parts. A brief introduction presents the theme of the theology of the body. This is followed by chapter one which explores what it means to be a human being, created 'in the image of God', and why we can speak of the body as a theology. Hence, it describes how the body and human sexuality are meant to portray the presence of God. Chapter two focuses on the destiny of the human person to be in communion with God not only in an eschatological dimension but from the here and now. Chapter three deals with Catholic Sexual Morality in general and highlights selffulfilment through self-gift in marriage and Christian celibacy in particular. The conclusion underlines the focal points of the essay and calls for an evangelization that affirms the beauty and purpose of the human body in God's plan.